Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Steve Hood on July 08, 2018, 06:38:44 PM

Title: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 08, 2018, 06:38:44 PM
One of my favourite spots to visit during this time of year are the trails at the end of Martin Road in Ancaster.  It usually has over a dozen pairs of Indigo Buntings in a small area, along with a variety of other nesting birds.  Here are a couple of images from my last visit on Saturday morning.  I am going to take a bit of a break from birding now and hope everyone has a great summer.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/28392333357_ec886cf6e3_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KfW8wV)

[(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1809/41452087290_7e74444672_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/269YMob)
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: winz on July 08, 2018, 07:38:25 PM
Love them Steve.. great lighting and composition.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 08, 2018, 08:34:45 PM
Such great photos, will plan a trip there soon.

Have a summer!
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Shortsighted on July 08, 2018, 09:18:16 PM
Worth the drive to Ancaster.
Can't recall where that even is.
Wonderful photos.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 08, 2018, 09:29:46 PM
Ancaster is just outside of Hamilton. Definitely worth the drive.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 09, 2018, 08:48:28 AM
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
Ancaster is just outside of Hamilton. Definitely worth the drive.
Hi Steve, is the trail you described right next to the Ancaster Community Centre at the intersection of Jerseyville Road W and Martin Road?

I'm planning to go this Sunday.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 09, 2018, 08:55:07 AM
Quote from: "Ally"
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
Ancaster is just outside of Hamilton. Definitely worth the drive.
Hi Steve, is the trail you described right next to the Ancaster Community Centre at the intersection of Jerseyville Road W and Martin Road?

I'm planning to go this Sunday.

Yes, Martin road continue past the Community Centre and changes to a dirt road as it enters into the forest.  The winding road is quite narrow but once you reach the bottom of the hill that is where the trails begin.  If you continue walking straight along the main trail you should start to hear the Indigo Buntings when you come to openings in the forest.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 09, 2018, 08:58:20 AM
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
Quote from: "Ally"
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
Ancaster is just outside of Hamilton. Definitely worth the drive.
Hi Steve, is the trail you described right next to the Ancaster Community Centre at the intersection of Jerseyville Road W and Martin Road?

I'm planning to go this Sunday.

Yes, Martin road continue past the Community Centre and changes to a dirt road as it enters into the forest.  The winding road is quite narrow but once you reach the bottom of the hill that is where the trails begin.  If you continue walking straight along the main trail you should start to hear the Indigo Buntings when you come to openings in the forest.

Thank you, there are several trails there. Hilltop, Link and Headwaters.Will I need to go to those or Old Martin Rd Trail is quite enough?
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 09, 2018, 09:13:10 AM
The old Martin Trail should be fine.  You should not have to walk far to see most of the birds.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 09, 2018, 10:18:37 AM
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
The old Martin Trail should be fine.  You should not have to walk far to see most of the birds.


Thank you so much for the tip!
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 09, 2018, 10:50:13 AM
If you are lucky you will hear the male Wood Thrush with his loud echoing like call.  I wasn't familiar with this call but I realized who was doing it after getting a view of him singing.  The video below is a good example of the call if you are not familiar with it.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/sto ... =126511080 (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126511080)
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 09, 2018, 11:06:51 AM
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
If you are lucky you will hear the male Wood Thrush with his loud echoing like call.  I wasn't familiar with this call but I realized who was doing it after getting a view of him singing.  The video below is a good example of the call if you are not familiar with it.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/sto ... =126511080 (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126511080)
Thank you. I learnt they do the Yi-oh-Ley sound.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: annie on July 10, 2018, 08:45:20 PM
Wow, those are awesome!
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 15, 2018, 07:04:37 PM
Quote from: "Steve Hood"
If you are lucky you will hear the male Wood Thrush with his loud echoing like call.  I wasn't familiar with this call but I realized who was doing it after getting a view of him singing.  The video below is a good example of the call if you are not familiar with it.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/sto ... =126511080 (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126511080)
Hi Steve,
I went to Martin Rd Trail today, and found quite a few Indigo Buntings, and I even saw a female, which was a first. I also saw for first time, a Brewster's warbler, a Hooded warbler, but didn't get good pics of them. I went to Sammy's for lunch, and when I got out of the car, I heard calls, and I got my camera out just in time for a blue jay air-bombing a Merlin with a kill of a sparrow.  Again, my pic was not great, but it was a wonderful outing for me. Thank you so much for the info.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Steve Hood on July 15, 2018, 11:28:32 PM
Wow Ally.  That is great that you saw the Hooded Warbler.  I have been searching for it there but have not been able to find it yet.
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Ally on July 16, 2018, 09:31:56 AM
I looked at my photos and think the Brewster's might be a Blue winged after all. But I am happy with that, also a first for me. You guys must be envious of us new birders, we can get three or four lifer in a day trip within Ontario :P  :P
Title: Re: Ancaster visit
Post by: Dinusaur on July 21, 2018, 08:29:48 PM
Great pics. Last year I saw my first Hooded Warbler exactly at the same location.